What our clients say

Super friendly staff, always happy to help. Amazing that they support us at Colchester cats protection with all our vet needs. Couldn't ask for a better vets.Kirstie Davis★★★★★

I have been using your practice for over 40 years and you have looked after all my many cats, dogs and not to mention rabbits and other small animals when my children were young! I feel that nothing is too much trouble and that you are always available in a crisis. Thank you so much.Pamela Jones★★★★★

For me and my dogs this is the best vets around, they have been looking after my animals for as long as I can remember, I even travel from Little Clacton when I have a vets up the road from my house. Why? Because their care and attention is just great and my dogs love them xStephanie Harris★★★★★

This is an excellent vets, and would recommend 100%. In fact I travel over 10 miles to get there because I don’t want to use any other vets closer to me. My dog has recently gone blind and needed surgery, the vet had an excellent ‘bed side manner’ with both myself and my dog. We have been using this vet practice for over 25 years and would not dream of going anywhere else.Ria Goodman★★★★★

I switched from another vet to here about 5 years ago. Best thing I ever did. Although my boy hates the vets, and gets really stressed, they are always very kind and understanding with him. Popped in yesterday for advice, and both ladies were more than helpful.Lizzy Boo Tomlinson Lewis★★★★★

Really friendly! So pleased I changed over last year.Ingrid Ransome

Really friendly. Superb people run by the most caring person you could wish to meet.Sue Noy

Anaesthesia Information

The following information explains our practice policy about general anaesthesia. When you go into hospital you naturally expect the best and very latest treatment and we believe that your pet deserves a similar approach.

Pre-anaesthetic examination

This practice routinely weighs and examines all patients prior to anaesthesia. It may be appropriate to carry out other tests such as a blood screen - which can be performed in the practice prior to anaesthesia - the veterinary surgeon will advise you accordingly.

General anaesthesia

Your pet is to undergo a surgical procedure. He/she will receive a pre -medication which consists of a pain relief and a mild sedative, this ensures a smooth transition into general anaesthesia and limits the amount of anaesthetics used. We use the gaseous anaesthetic Isofluorane and induce anaesthesia with Vetofol. These drugs are now used extensively for human anaesthesia. Animals anaesthetised with these agents go to sleep in a smooth and well controlled manner and wake up more rapidly, with very little "hangover". Furthermore, they have less effect on a number of vital organs including the liver, kidneys and heart. They are especially suitable for "day case surgery" where patients operated upon can go home the same day. Every patient will be carefully assessed for which anaesthetic agents we will use prior to the anaesthetic itself.

These agents allow us to return your pet in a brighter and more alert condition, even following anaesthesia just a short time before. We know that by using these agents the anaesthetic experience for your pet is kept as short and as pleasant as possible. We hope you are assured that we are committed to the safety anaesthetic practice. Please feel free to question us about the forthcoming procedure.

All anaesthetics carry some risk. We have striven to reduce that risk to the smallest possible.

What we would like you to do before bringing your pet to us for treatment:

Please ensure that your pet has had nothing to eat from 10.00pm the night before the procedure but that it has had access to water overnight.

Ensure that your dog has gone to the toilet before admittance and is clean - no muddy walks before coming in!!

Please read the consent form in your own time and ask any questions when you see the veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse on admission.

You have the opportunity for your pet to be fed a special post-operative diet after it has recovered from the operation. The Hills Prescription Diets i/d and a/d are highly nutritious and palatable, they are scientifically proven to aid recovery in convalescing animals. Please inform the veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse if you would like to take advantage of this service.